Some 180 officers are involved in the case and business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones have been seized. Officials were spotted on Wednesday leaving an address in Gosforth.

Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley (Image: PA)

Lee Charnley, Newcastle United’s managing director, was among those taken in for questioning, but he was released without charge on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile Former Newcastle United player Sylvain Marveaux, who left the club in 2016, has also reportedly been taken into custody in France.

French newspaper Le Parisien claimed on Thursday that Mr Marveaux was one of four men arrested in France in connection with the HMRC raids.

The 31-year-old winger was said to be “answering questions” in custody before being released.

According to local reports, French investigators have arrested four football agents and Marseille’s transfer dealings are understood to be under investigation.

A spokesperson for HMRC confirmed that this is a criminal investigation relating to suspected income tax and national insurance fraud, adding: “This criminal investigation sends a clear message that, whoever you are, if you commit tax fraud you can expect to face the consequences.

“As this is an ongoing investigation HMRC is unable to provide any further detail at this time.”

A general view of St James' Park (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Meanwhile, French authorities offered more detail, with the National Finance Office saying: “The investigation is being conducted by HMRC. It deals with cases of aggravated tax evasion and the laundering of aggravated tax fraud committed during several transfers of football players between French clubs and clubs playing in the Premier League.

Read More

“The UK authorities suspect hidden payments to certain players, their agents or third parties allowing them to evade income taxes and social security contributions.

“This judicial operation to combat tax fraud, carried out jointly by the French and British authorities and supervised by two PNF magistrates, took several months to prepare and mobilised 32 investigators.”

The question on the lips of most fans will be a simple one: could the news put that vital promotion in jeopardy?

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

But the English Football League said it couldn’t say anything about Wednesday’s raids and the situation remains unclear.

The rules focus on financial insolvency, which, as yet, there’s no suggestion the club is facing. But there is a precedent for clubs being deducted points for financial irregularities: for instance, in 2002 Boston United were deducted four points for financial irregularities relating to payment of players.

A short statement released by the club on Wednesday night said: “Newcastle United can confirm that a member of its staff has this morning been assisting HMRC with their inquiries.”

The club has said nothing on the matter since, with manager Rafa Benitez insisting he and his players wanted to “focus on football” at his pre-Cardiff City press conference on Friday.

HMRC has also said the investigation is likely to be long-running, so results should not be expected to emerge soon.